SAINT PAUL, MINN.—The Hamline University football team dominated the time of possession battle 11:51 - 2:49 in an opening quarter that ended with a 7-7 score against Concordia (Minn.) at Klas Field on Saturday afternoon. The Cobbers, who opened the game with a 92-yard kick-off return for a touchdown from Eric Cockhill, scored 34 unanswered points over the final three quarters to secure a 41-7 victory over the Pipers. 

Hamline, who also lost to the Cobbers 41-7 in their previous meeting at Klas Field on November 6, 2021, fall to 2-4, 0-4 MIAC. Concordia improves to 4-2, 3-1 MIAC.

Concordia (Minn.) 41, Hamline 7

Following Cockhill's 92-yard touchdown return on the opening kickoff, the Pipers battled back with a 17-play, 75 yard drive that ended with Nicholas Vasko's one-yard plunge that tied the score 7-7 with 5:51 left in the first quarter.

That was all Hamline mustered as Concordia responded with 34 unanswered points en route to a 41-7 victory.

Vasko finished the game with 53 yards on 20 carries, which included his one-yard touchdown run. Pipers quarterback Alejandro Villanueva was multi-dimensional as he went 16-of-31 for 112 yards, and rushed for 51 on eight carries. D'Nari Adams had seven grabs for 43 yards, and a 21-yard kickoff return.

Jed Klang led the Cobbers with four catches for 50 yards and two touchdowns. The ground game was dominated by Griffin Babolian, who had 126 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries, while Mason Hughes had 54 yards and one touchdown on 14 carries.

Concordia quarterback Cooper Mattern finished 9-of-17 for 85 yards and three touchdowns. He led a team that finished with 295 yards of offense against 218 for the Pipers.

Leading the Pipers defense was Chris Kujawa and Dominic Sandoval, who each had seven tackles. Kujawa also had a forced fumble. PJ Parmelee had a game-high eight stops for the Cobbers.

Hamline will host Bethel at Klas Field on Saturday, October 26 at 1 p.m.